Geoegb steck



(No Model.)

G. STEGK.

. PIANO. v No. 365,412. Patented June 28,1887,

L m T a F -4 WZ IDJ EEE 5 INLQENTUR u. PEYERS.- Phulo-Lilhogmphur.Walhinglon. u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE STEOK, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,412, dated June 28,1887.

Application filed July 31, 1886. Serial No. 209,641. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE STEoK, of the city of New York, in the countyof New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedPiano, of which the following specification is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to a musical instrument operated by keys similarto a piano.

The invention is designed to enable beginners and students to practiceupon an instrument operating and having the same tones as the piano, butwithout having the intensity of such tones.

The invention consists in the various features of improvementhereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the plan of part of asquare piano with my improved arrangement. Fig. 2 is a crosssection atline as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section at line y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa cross-section at line z, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section at f linew, Fig. 1.. Fig. 6 shows a modification.

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and side views of the metal plate 70. p

The letter a represents the frame of a musical instrument built similarto a piano forte and provided with keys I) and with an ordi- ,nary grandor square action which throws hammers c upward and against the sounders.These sounders are attached to the sounding board (I and overlap suchsoundingboard at its rear edge, so as to be accessible to the hammers. Iprefer to employ four different classes of sounders-one for the highestnotes, two for the central notes, and one for the bass notes.

The sounders of each class vary in length, so

as to produce the different notes. The highest notes are produced bymetal (preferably steel) plates 6, of rectangular form and straight, andperforated at two places for the admission of two headless pins, f,projecting upwardly from sound-board d. Buttons or pads 02, of a softmaterial, are placed around these pins between the sounding-board d andthe metal plates 6. Upon these pins f the plates eare free to move upanddown.

In order to prevent plates 6 from being thrown beyond the upper edge ofthe pins, I employ two check-rails, 9, attached to sounde, it is simplynecessary to unfasten check-rails y, when all the plates 6 may heslipped off pins f.

The second class of notes are produced by flat metal bars h, bent ortwisted in a peculiar way. These bars are twisted upon themselves,-

so that the front section, h, stands at right angles to the rearsection, if. The rear sections are, moreover, of greater width than thefront section. These bars h are secured to the sounding-board in themanner hereinafterdescribed and in such a way that such front sectionslie flat or parallel with the sound-board, while their rear sectionsstand at right angles thereto. In this way the bars It may be placedclosely together and still their rear or sounding sections,h",willpossess sufficient body for the production of arich tone. The hammers cstrike bars h directly in front of the twisted portion that is, on therear end of front or horizontal section, h, and thus asuflicient surfacefor contact between hammer and bar is established.

The third class or baritone notes are produced by bars 13, the afterparts of which form spiral springs of uniform diameter from end to end,but of different length. These bars are attached to the sound-board attheir front end, as will be hereinafter described, while their rear orspiral end is free or unsupported, thus permitting free vibration.

The fourth or bass class of notes are produced by bars m, the afterparts of which are bent similar to helical springs, and are attachedwith theirstraightshanksmtothesound-board, as shown. These bars arestruck by the hammers preferably directly in front of the coils. Theconnection between the sound-board d and the bars h, i, m, and o isproduced by a small intermediate metal plate, is, slotted at one edge,W, for the admission of inner ends or shanks of the bars h, i, m, andi), which are soldered into said slots. At right angles to such slotstwo screw-holes, 7c, are made in plate k, through which theserews arepassed, by in cans of which the plate is secured to sounding-board d. Ihave found that by the use of these plates It the vibration of bars h,i, m, and v is considerably augmented.

Fig. 6 shows a metal bar, 22, bent backward and forward upon itself.This bar may possibly be employed for producing some of the lower notes.

By substituting metal bars for the usual strings in a piano I produce aninstrument which while giving the exact tones desired has not theintensity of sound, and is therefore particularly adapted for beginners,students or for practice.

I am aware of Patent No. 166,635, granted \Vitnesses:

Ro'n'r. II. For"; HENRY I0. ROE-DER.

